Bracket



Jan. 16, 1940.

R. CVBROWN BRACKET Filed April 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Amt..

Jan. 16, 1940.

R. C. BROWN BRACKET Filed April 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 16, 1.940

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRACKET Ohio Application April 4, 1939, Sel'ialiNo.` 266,024t

6 Claims.

This invention relates to brackets and more particularly to a clamping bracket designedfor usein assembling a scaiold.

An objectof this invention is to provide an improved bracket or clamping means'which is so constructed that it will eliminate the use of nails vor bolts in 'building up a scaffold.

Another object of this invention is to provide` an improvedclarrip or bracket which is so constructed that it can be" used with different sizes of lumber and which Will rmly hold the several parts together.

A further object ofthis'invention is to provid`e"a bracket or clamp of thischaracter which can be used with different sizes of lumber or material andwhich will not unduly injure or mar the material.

A still further object of this invention is to provide abracket orclam'p of' this kind which includesr means whereby additional scaffold ymembers'maybesecurecl to the clamp or bracket;

To `the foregoing'objects and' toV others which may hereinafter appear, the' invention consists of "the novel construction, combination andarrangenient'of partsaswill be more specically referredto and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,` wherein `are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be '"resorted to which fall Within the scope of the invention as claimed. In the drawings:` Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective'view of a scaffold having abracket or clamping means mounted thereon constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the bracket or clamp,

Figure 3 is a sectionalview taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional'view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3,

'Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view'of a scaffoldhaving a modified form of bracket or clamp mounted thereon,

Figure 6 is-a detailside elevation of fled' form of bracket, y

Figure 'l` is a sectional View taken on the line T T of Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line d-of Figure 7. y Referring to thev drawings and rst to Figures l to 4, the numeral IOdesignates generally vertically disposed or 'upright 1members comprising -Lpostsformedout of lumber.V In orderto provide the modia means whereby a ledger member or horizontally disposed plank supporting member may be secured to the posts Ill, I have provided `a` bracket or clamp generally designated as IZ'Which is adapted toA clamp'the ledger or plank supporting member II to" the posts or vertical members I0. The clamp or bracket IZincludes a pair of spaced, parallel,` upstanding substantially U- shaped vclamping members of like form each consisting ofy a horizontally disposed substantially rectangular bight IS arranged on its lower lengthwise edgef and ,constituting a support, an upstanding forward leg Id'disposed substantially at right anglesto the bight I3 and constituting a jaw `having a vvertical inner edge, and an upstanding` rearwardly inclined rear leg I5 disposed atan obtuse "angie to the bight I3, of less length than leg IA and constituting a retainer. The legs I and l5 have upper free ends and at lower ends merge into the upper edge of the bight I3. The legs I4; are disposed in spaced relation. The leg I5 has projecting rearwardly from its rear edge a horizontally disposed Substantially rectangular extension II disposed on its lower lengthwise edge. The extension is arranged at an obtuse'angie relative to the leg 'I5 and at right angles to the leg I4. The top edge of the extension is flush with the upper edge ofthe leg I5. The bight I3, leg I4, leg I5 andextension I6 ota U-shaped clamping member are integral with each other. The extensions IG are arranged inparallel spaced relation and are cone nected together by an upstanding coupling member or plate I'I which may be integral with or secured to the extensions I 6 by any suitable means. Preferably the plate ormember I1 will be integral with the rear vends of the extensions I 6." The upper edges of the legs I5 and extensions lil are arranged" below the upper edges of the legs i4. A bracing plate I8 may be disposed between the `two extensions I6 at their inner ends and positioned in face abutting relation to the connecting member I'I, being welded or otherwise secured to the connecting member I1.

The connecting member I'Il and the bracing member i8 have a nut` or threaded boss I 9 secured thereto and preferably the inner side of the nut I9 may be countersunk in the bracing member Iiland welded or otherwise secured in the countersunk portion 20 thereof so that the nut I9 will be iirmly held against movement'relative to the connecting member Il and the bracing plate. A threaded shaft or movable jaw operating memberV 2l is threaded through the nut or boss I9" and 'atits'innerfend the shaft 2I` is 'prolsov vided with a crank or handle 22. In the present instance, the handle 22 is formed integral with the shaft 2|, being disposed at right-angles to the length of the shaft 2l.

A movable jaw or clamping member 23 provided with a boss 24 in the center thereof is swivelly mounted as at 25 on the outer end of the shaft 2l. This jaw or pressure member 23 is provided on the outer face thereof with a plurality of tangs 26 which are adapted to bite into the confronting side of the post I0. The movable jaw 23 is disposed between the two extensions and is movable toward or away from the xed or stationary jaw members I4.

Each jaw member I4 is provided adjacent the free end thereof and on its inner edge with a tang 2l and each jaw member I4 is also provided at a point intermediate the free end thereof and the bight I3 with a laterally projecting ear, abutment or extension 28. The ear, abutment or extension 28 is adapted to abut against the adjacent face of the ledger or horizontal plank supporting member l I and is provided with an opening 29 through which va securing means in the form of a nail or the like may be extended. These `laterally projecting ears, abutments or extensions 28 not only provide a means whereby a substantially wide clamping surface may be presented to the ledger I I, but also provide a means whereby additional scaffolding may be secured to the ledger and to the bracket or clamp I2.

The ears, abutments or extensions 28 are disposed at right angles to and are flush with the vertical inner edges of the legs I4.

In Figures 5 to 8, there is disclosed a modiiied form of this bracket or clamp wherein a pair of spaced apart'stationary jaw members Ida are provided which are similar to the jaw members I4. A right angular ledger supporting member I3a is formed integral with the jaw member I4 and extends at right angles thereto.. A substantially short and obtusely disposed leg I5a is.

formed integral with the bight or supporting member |30. and is substantially shorter in length than the jaw member Ilia. An extension I6@ is formed integral with the leg |511 and extends at an obtuse angle to the leg I5a and is positioned at a substantial right angle to the jaw or leg |461..

The two jaw or clamping members I4a with the supporting member I3a, the leg I5a and extension Ita are held in spaced apart parallel relation by a pair of parallel and spaced apart connecting vrods 30. These rods 30 are secured in any suitable manner as by welding, riveting or the like to the extensions I6a. A substantially U-shaped slide member 32 is slidably mounted on the two bars 30, the legs 33 of the slide member 32 slidably engaging the bars 30 and the bight 34 being disposed inwardly andy in spaced relation to the bars 30. A nut or threaded boss 35 is xedly secured to the outer side of the bight 34 being positioned' between the parallel legs 33 and also positioned between the two parallel bars 30. A threaded shaft or jaw operating member 36 is threaded through the boss 35 and is provided on its inner end with a handle or operating member 3l which in the present instance is formed integrally with the shaft 36. A movable each jaw member I4 is also provided with a latthesupporting member or bight I3 whereupon the movable jaw member 23 is moved outwardly or toward the post l0. As the movable jaw member 23 is moved to a clamping position, the tangs 26 will bite into the confronting face of the post I0 and at the same time the tangs 21 will also bite into the confronting face of the ledger or plank supporting member II. The bracket I2 has been constructed for use with supporting posts of a special thickness, and normally engage the opposite sides of the posts I0. However, the post I0 may be substantially smaller than the space between the two clamping members I4.

The device shown inFigures 5 to 8 may be used with different sizes of posts, the slide member 32 being shiftable along the bars 3l) so as to position the clamping plate 38' in the desired position relative to the post Illa. In other respects the clamp I2a is similar to the clamp I2.

What I claim is:

l. A scaffold bracket comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped clamping members disposed in spaced apart relation, one leg of each member constituting a stationary jaw and disposed at right angles to the bight, the other, leg of each member being substantially shorter` in length than said one leg and disposed at an obtuse angle to the bight, an obtusely disposed extension integral with said other leg and disposed at right angles to said one leg, a pair of parallel bars connecting said extensions together, a slide engaging said bars, a shaft threaded through said slide, and a movable jaw swivelly carried by said shaft.

2. A scaffold bracket comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped clamping members disposed in spaced apart relation, one leg of each member constituting a stationary jaw and disposed at right angles to the bight, the other leg of each member being substantially shorter in length than said one leg and disposed vat an obtuse angle to the bight, an obtusely disposed extension integral with said other leg and disposed at right angles to said one leg, a pair of parallel bars connecting'said extensions together, a U-shaped slide engaging said bars, shaft threaded through the bight of said slide, and a movable jaw swivelly carried by said shaft.

3. A scaffold bracket comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped clamping members` disposed in spaced apart relation, one leg of each member constituting a stationary jaw and disposed at right angles tothe bight, the other leg of each member being substantially shorter in length than said one leg and disposed at an obtuse angle to the bight, an obtusely disposed extension integral with said other leg and disposed at right anglesto said one leg, a pair of parallel bars connecting said extensions together, a U-shaped slide between said extensions and having the opposite legs thereof slidable on said bars, a nut carried by the bight of said slide, a jaw operating shaft threaded through said nut, and a movable `jaw swivelly carried by saidshaft.

4. In a scaiol'd bracket, a pair of spaced par-` allel substantially U-shaped clamping members of like form, each consisting of a horiontal substantially rectangular bight disposed on its lower lengthwise edge and constituting a support, an upstanding forward leg disposed atright angles to the bight and constituting a jaw formed with ka vertical inner edge, an upstanding rearwardly inclined rear leg disposed at an obtuse angle to the bight, of less length than said forward leg and constituting ay retainer and a substantially rectangular extension projecting from the upper portion of said rear leg, having its upper end flush with the upper edge of the rear leg, arranged at an obtuse angle relative to the rear leg and arranged at right angles relative to the forward leg, said legs merging at their inner ends into said blight and arranged in spaced relation, said extensions being disposed in parallel spaced relation, means for securing the rear ends of said extensions together, and an adjustable jaw connected with said means and extending between said extensions.

5. In a scaffold bracket, a pair of spaced parallel substantially U-shaped clamping members of like form, each consisting of a horizontal substantially rectangular blight disposed on its lower lengthwise edge and constituting a support, an upstanding forward leg disposed at right angles to the bight and constituting a jaw formed with a Vertical inner edge, an upstanding rearwardly inclined rear leg disposed at an obtuse angle to the bight, of less length than said forward leg and constituting a retainer and a substantially rectangular extension projecting from the upper portion of said rear leg, having its upper end `flush with the upper edge of the rear leg, arranged at an obtuse angle relative to the rear leg and arranged at right angles relative to the forward leg, said legs merging at their inner ends into said bight and arranged in spaced relation, said extensions being disposed in parallel spaced relation, means for securing the rear ends of said extensions together, and an adjustable jaw connected with said means and extending between said extensions, the forward leg of each clamping member being provided intermediate its ends with an outwardly directed apertured abutment flush with and disposed at right angles to the said vertical inner edge of such leg.

6. In a scaffold bracket, a pair of spaced parallel substantially U-shaped clamping members of like form, each consisting of a horizontal substantialiy rectangular b-ight disposed on its lower lengthwise edge and constituting a support, an upstanding forward leg disposed at right angles to the bight and constituting a jaw formed with a vertical inner edge, an upstanding rearwardly inclined rear leg disposed at an obtuse angle to the bight, of less length than said forward leg and constituting a retainer and a substantially rectangular extension projecting from the upper portion of said rear leg, having its upper end ush with the upper edge of the rear leg, arranged at an obtuse angle relative to the rear leg and arranged at `right angles relative to the forward leg, said legs merging at their inner ends into said bight and arranged in spaced relation, said extensions being disposed in parallel spaced relation, means for securing the rear ends of said extensions together, and an adjustable jaw connected with said means and extending between said extensions, the forward leg of each clamping member being provided intermediate its ends with an outwardly directed apertured abutment flush with and disposed at right angles to the said vertical inner edge of such leg, and the forward leg of each clamping member formed at the upper end terminal portion of its vertical inner edge with a rearwardly extending prong arranged above and disposed at right angles to the abutment on such leg.

ROBERT C. BROWN. 

